Low-cost solar collector
US8921680B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 5, 2007 |
| Grant date | Dec 30, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 24, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/52
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A low-cost solar collector employs a concave reflecting surface and a convex reflecting surface configured as a cylindrical Cassegrain optical system with planar symmetry to concentrate sunlight for photovoltaic solar panels. The collector achieves high concentration factors exceeding 20× and maintains focus of concentrated sunlight on the photovoltaic cells using a simple mechanical means to rotate the collector. A plurality of solar collectors is arranged in parallel in a conventional solar panel form factor and driven by a single drive system to maintain the sun continuously in the plane of symmetry of each of the solar collectors that comprise the solar panel. This reduces the area of photovoltaic cells required to convert a given quantity of light energy to electrical energy. Cost of electrical energy generated is reduced significantly because the cost per unit area of the solar collectors is much less than the cost of photovoltaic cells.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.